Twenty-four-hour L-[1-(13)C]tyrosine and L-[3,3-(2)H2]phenylalanine oral tracer studies at generous, intermediate, and low phenylalanine intakes to estimate aromatic amino acid requirements in adults.

Daily pattern and rates of whole-body tyrosine oxidation and phenylalanine hydroxylation were determined in young adults (15 men, 1 woman) receiving [13C]tyrosine and [(2)H2]phenylalanine via primed, constant oral infusion and [(2)H4]tyrosine by vein (five subjects also received [(2)H3]leucine simultaneously by vein) continuously for 24 h (12 h fast then 12 h fed). Subjects were given a diet supplying 96.6 (n = 5), 35.6 (the proposed requirement; n = 5), and 18.5 mg phenylalanine x kg(-1) x d(-1) (n = 6) based on an otherwise adequate L-amino acid mixture for 6 d before the 24-h tracer study began. [Each diet was low in tyrosine: 6.79 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1).] Our hypothesis was that subjects would be in tyrosine equilibrium, positive balance, or both, at the 96.6- and 35.6-mg intakes and in distinctly negative balance at the 18.5-mg intake. The diurnal pattern in phenylalanine and tyrosine kinetics was dependent on the intake and, presumably, on the adequacy of dietary phenylalanine. Wholebody tyrosine balances, determined from rates of phenylalanine hydroxylation and tyrosine input and oxidation were negative (0.05 < P < 0.1 from zero balance) with the low (18.5 mg) phenylalanine intake [total aromatic amino acid (AAA) intake: 25.3 mg x kg(-1) x d(-1)] but at equilibrium (P > 0.05 from zero balance) with the two higher phenylalanine intakes. Whole-body AAA balance (AAA intake - tyrosine oxidation) was negative (P < 0.05 from zero balance) with the low intake, at equilibrium with the intermediate intake, and apparently distinctly positive (P < 0.05) with the generous intake. Despite model limitations, as discussed, these findings lend further support for a proposed, tentative value for a total mean requirement of 39 mg AAA x kg(-1) x d(-1).